Heartbreaker

So apparently this guy is a piece of shit. Unfortunately for my moral high-ground, he also makes genuinely good music. It's like Bob Dylan if Bob Dylan didn't have the voice of a duck being strangled.

The cover art does not inspire much hope. Like Jeff Buckley rotated 90 degrees. I worried early on that Heartbreaker would cling too strongly to country without forging its own path. My worry was somewhat justified, though what I really should've been concerned about was the constant balladesqueness, the mostly barebones instrumentation, the lack of bite. On the bright side, it does make textural/mood switch-ups all the more exciting. The competition for "dumbest opening track" really heats up with this release. I understand we all want to argue about Morrissey, but keep it off the LPs, yeah? To Be Young does significantly better. The singing takes a bit of inspiration from Dylan, a bit from Jagger, and the way the music drops down at around 1:50 is pretty special. By the sophomore song, My Winding Wheel, I start to worry a little about Adams's prospects for getting 5 stars here. You can't have every song on a record be a cheesy acoustic country cut and expect to get away with it. Pretty cool continuity between My Winding Wheel and Amy, the latter of which has a very similar melody but a completely different atmosphere. We hear strings(!) for the first time, and they aren't overused (!!). A beautiful little ballad that hits in all the right places. Oh My Sweet Carolina is an unremarkable a cappella until the second singer comes in, transforming the piece into a (still pretty unremarkable) country-esque ballad. In Bartering Lines, we hear an interesting folk melody in a minor key, helped along by soft banjo and that nice secondary vocalist. Call Me on Your Way Back Home is just kind of unremarkable; the harmonica doesn't help. Same comment for Damn Sam, with a special shoutout to the line "I'm as calm as a fruit stand in New York". Those two songs make sense, though, as a combined buffer before the relative masterpiece that is Come Pick Me Up. Great punchy chorus that positively explodes after the more understated verses. A bizarre decision to have the harmonica line at the end suddenly taper off, then come back at the beginning of To Be the One (why not just have a smooth transition?). The latter track, unfortunately, contains nothing of interest aside from that weird harmonica decision. Why Do They Leave? is a better coda to Come Pick Me Up any day of the week. Track 12 of 15, Shakedown on 9th Street, we finally get something a little more upbeat. And I'm here for it! I just wish it'd come much earlier, and been more numerous, on the album. Rambunctious rock 'n' roll with a chunky electric guitar part that puts the rest of the album's guitar lines to shame. Don't Ask for the Water was going to drop straight to the bottom of my track rating, but those incredibly subtle strings are genuinely a game-changer. Once you notice them, they latch onto you and never let go. I enjoy In My Time of Need. Boring, in a way that I'd hate in certain situations, but Ryan caught me on a lucky day. This kind of stuff works well as chill, positive background sound. Plus, I like the lyrics and melody of this particular song. Sweet Lil' gal: There's the piano I've been looking for. I'm not sure that a 14th ballad is really what the doctor ordered, though. And someone forgot to capitalise the G. 3/5 Key tracks: To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High), Amy, Come Pick Me Up

I don't really know the details, but I've only ever heard this guy described as an asshole. Some musicians can get away with it if their music is good enough. He can not. This is some of the most average music ever. I forgot I was listening to music multiple times. Low 3.

I dunno if I wanna ask why everyone hates the guy, being ignorant is fun sometimes. pretty decent tunes tho.

Oh man Ryan Adams can really write a good song. The choruses, especially in the middle of the album, are superb. "Come Pick Me Up" always catches my ear

Actually really appreciated this album. Ryan’s love of Morrissey doesn’t hinder his song writing. Can’t say I share his love. I don’t think I have liked any of the solo Morrissey I’ve heard as much as this. But we take inspiration from whence it comes a move with the spirit. 4 Boolean: True

Hard to separate lots of terrible personal decisions from the songwriting/performance, which I generally liked. I'm throwing two stars down and moving on.

music was 2-stars, but minus 1 star for artist douchebaggery

That was lovely. Ryan has a great voice and the slower more acoustic songs were great. I like them more than the energetic ones. Come Pick Me Up & Why Do They Leave were my favourite. Can see myself coming back to this when I need to relax

yeah idk what to say about this one. its like. pretty decent country rock i guess? just not really sure why it's on the list. from the wiki article it kinda seems like it was perceived as kinda mid even when it was released so like. idk. the only tracks that really stood out to me were "to be young (to be high)" and "shakedown on 9th street", probably due to their shared rock & roll vibe and energy, on an album that's otherwise pretty lethargic. other than that... i guess i kinda like the triplets on guitar during the chorus of "come pick me up"....? but nothing else springs to mind. it really is just perfectly average.

Now reading the reviews & apparently this guy sucks? Idk I quite enjoyed it, definitely between a 4 & a 5 but won the coin flip

*2000. *Ryan Adams is a terrible person, etc. *In the early mid-2000s, I dug his sound (and still regretfully do). *To Be Young and Winding Wheel are the only songs I was familiar with going in. *There are some misses here, but I mostly enjoy the vibe (apologetically, of course). RATING - 7.5/10

I listened to this yesterday? I'm sure I did but I can't recall a single remarkable thing to put here.

own

2/5

Not a single enjoyable song.

Take a couple tracks off this and my opinion changes VASTLY.

Is this some fake honky tonk dumbass work? This guy is trying to drag an element of Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, a dash of The Beatles, and a half dozen other better artists into a stew of faux country relatability.

There is nothing going on here that makes it required listening. It's fine for music like this to be made, there just isn't a reason to mass market it when there are some local artists making a very similar product.

Meh, some songs stuck out, but overall not one I'd come back to.

This 2 is for Phoebe Bridgers you motherfucker

If you’re gunna be a bad person at least don’t write boring music

Eh

It's not immensely the highest highs or lowest lows, but I generally like all his stuff. And a song or two on here (i.e. Shakwdown on 9th) I really liked.

come pick me uuuuuup take me ouuuuuuut fuck me uuuuuup :cry:

Embarrassed to say I have never heard of him nor his music before. But after looking him up….I am disappointed that someone with such beautiful songwriting and singing skills is….him. Because, before I looked him up, I thought this album was so beautiful, deep, and emotionally raw in every (good) way. If I am rating this stand-alone album based on its musicality and artistry as if was made in 2000…it’s a sure 5 for me. But I will not listen to this album again nor any of his music after this. Which is so disappointing bc he is the definition of a gifted singer-songwriter. Sigh.

I’m such a sucker for an Emmylou Harris feature, all of these stars are for her!!!

Some really good songs here.

My kind of sad boy shit. A lot of good stuff on here

Great singer/songwriter

My previous Ryan Adams album (Gold) had a bit more of a hard rock/White Stripes/Springsteen character to it, so I was surprised when this kicked off and I heard that it was largely folky Americana. The surprise was honestly welcome, I actually think that Ryan Adams' songwiritng kind of fits in a little nicer here. He very easily sells a rootsy and tender sound here, without it feeling cloying or disingenuous. Amy and Sweet Lil Gal are great examples of his unique vocal character and style of poetry. Featuring a raw sound, with tasteful adornments, I really liked these, as well as most songs here, honestly. And Shakedown on 9th Street even gives you a little bit of thst hard rock that you hear more of on Gold. I'd honestly say, having heard 2 albums, that I really am surprised at how solid Ryan Adam's is. I e petted his music to be a lot less interesting than it is. But he brings tons of character, and great songwriting to Americana that is very much welcome.

It is such a shame that Ryan turned out to be such a terrible person because he really was a phenomenal musician for a while. I did not discover Whiskeytown until after this album, but his work with them was great too. But this album... wow. Before I had ever heard of Ryan Adams, I used to listen to the college radio station and I heard "Oh My Sweet Carolina" in the car on the way to school. I loved it and remember when I got to school running to the computer lab to search (I wonder what I used because I don't think Google was a thing yet?) the snippets of lyrics I could remember to try to find out who it was. Went and bought the CD that day and fell in love with all of it. For me personally, this is easily a 5-star album that loses a star because of what a prick Ryan is. Not all the stuff in the news, which is of course terrible - I can separate art from artist (see: my Kanye scores) - but back before we knew what a monster he was Ryan the artist put on one of the worst shows I've ever seen, ended it early, had the audacity to blame the crowd afterward (and insulted my city,) and then later apologized and blamed it on heroin. I vowed that night to never spend another penny on Ryan Adams, and I have kept that promise. So I think 4 stars is pretty generous. But this album is so, so good. (In retrospect, appropriately ominous that this album opens with a discussion of Morrisey?)

Well produced and great mix, string showing for a debut. Too bad it kind of falls flat. It feels like a bland version of Bon Iver. Good songwriting, but missing a zing. The intentional nasaly vocals are the opposite of a zing for me.

Another straight down the middle album for me, didn’t love it, but didn’t hate it. 3/5.

Nice enough, folksy

Overraskende bra. På det beste er det litt Elliott Smith, litt Sufjan Stevens, litt Mark Kozelek. Men Oh My Sweet Carolina kunne han godt spart meg for!

Som breakup-album mister det kanskje litt verdi når man vet alle avsløringene om Adams. Samtidig er det jævla fin musikk. Jaja, så er jeg apologet, da

So boring. This was not enjoyable.

If you're "one star, Ryan Adams is a shithead," go touch grass immediately. All your favorites are problematic in some way. It's perfectly decent tune-wise.

Ryan Adams is not a good person.

Pretty solid and makes sense he came out of the NC circuit that had Hootie and Ben Folds, etc. I like the songwriting a lot and not so much the allegations. probably a 4 for me after 1 listen, but he gets docked a point!

I like this alot better when I was younger oof... 2.8

Musically tolerable. Lyrically hollow and grating.

Very good this one. Some good songs, some great and they seem to build towards the finish where the final songs really connected.

This guy, this is not my kinda guy

He's a cunt by all accounts, but this was alright...

Not my thing, too slow. Still good enough for a 3.

3/5 Favorite Song: My Winding Wheel

I knew nothing about this guy until I saw the reviews, and what I Googled was eye opening. It's a shame, because this was actually pretty good. Focusing solely on the music, I liked the warmth and intimacy. The rockabilly and folksy stuff was entertaining. I hope the guy gets his life together and that the women he's wronged have come out stronger.

Couple good up pace songs but its pretty slow otherwise. Good lyrics.

Muutama ihan nätti kappale, mutta lähinnä kärsi synnistä nimeltä tylsyys.

Ekat 5 biisiä olin tosi inessä. Hyvin kivaa polveilevaa ja kaunista. 8. biisistä alkaen alko vähän hidastua mulle tempo ja mielenkiinto. Jäi kesken tää levy kun kuuntelin sillon oikeena päivänä kun tää oli listalla niin nyt koitin ottaa ajatuksen kanssa haltuun. Loppupuoli alko tosi isosti nytkin laahaamaan mulle. Jos ois ollu joku kuuden biisin levy ois ollu 4/5 mutta tää oli nyt liian uninen mulle loppupuolelta.

Olin levyn alussa ihan että en oo oikein kuunnellu Bryan Adamssia mut tää ei vastaa mun mielikuvaa. Tovin kuunneltuani tajusin miksei vastannu :D Mut siis aivan jees levy. Alku oli vahvempi ja loppua kohti vähän hyyty. Ilmeisesti Ryan Adams on mulkku niin ei jääny sit myöskään tarvetta kuunnella uudestaan.

Hitto vie! Miten kukaan ei oo kertonu et Ryan Adams on näin kova?! Olin ihan hilkulla antaa jopa vitosen, mut edelleen kolmannen kuuntelukerran jälkeen tuntu et muutama ylimääränen biisi oli turhaan tungettu matkaan. Come Pick Me Up kohdalla meinasin taas kyllä pyöristää taas ylöspäin 🥹 Tuo itse asiassa vähän mieleen juuri edesmenneen Glen Hansardin mussiikkia elokuvasta Once just tuo biisi 🕯️ En myöskään ollut tajunnut kuinka pehmeä kohta mulla on Emmylou Harrisin ääntä ja tulkintaa kohtaan! 😍 Löysät pois ja siihen mainittuun 30-40 min ideaalipituteen ni sit!

Eka countryalbumi! And yet another sarjassamme ”ihan jepa”. Kyllä tätä kuuntelee, mut liikaa lällyä ja juustoa mun makuun.

When you’re wincing and begging for an album to be over, there’s only really one rating. Just so not my type of music

Pretty cool, need another listen

2.5★/5 07.25.2026

He may be a total abomination as a person but he makes good music.

Nice chill album. While I enjoy it, I do not think I will be listening to it too often.

Ryan Adams and Bryan Adams, maybe two of the worst artists ever

I don’t even fw country or even country-esque music, but this was an absolute delight.

Date: 07/21/2026 Artist: Ryan Adams Album: Heartbreaker Year: 2000 Style: Folk Rock, Country Rock, Alternative Rock, Acoustic Number: 199 Familiarity: None (1) Rating: 4 Before: ======= The name sounds familiar but I might be confusing it with Bryan Adams. I'm pretty sure I've never heard and song on this album. During: ======= 3 (Argument With David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey) 4 To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) 4 My Winding Wheel 3 Amy 3 Oh My Sweet Carolina 3 Bartering Lines 3 Call Me On Your Way Back Home 5 Damn, Sam (I Love A Woman That Rains) 5 Come Pick Me Up 4 To Be The One 3 Why Do They Leave? 4 Shakedown On 9th Street 3 Don't Ask For The Water 3 In My Time Of Need 3 Sweet Lil Gal (23rd/1st) After : ======= I'm pretty sure I would not have liked this at all in 2000 but I do like it a little now. Favorite 2 tracks are Damn, Sam... and Come Pick Me Up which I added to my 2000 playlist.

Saw this was country and thought I'd hate it, but didn't. There are enough folk elements in here the elevates this above your average country rock jangle. Pretty good song writing on some of these tracks. 3/5

Blues rock moyen

C’est tristoune comme le nom de l’album C’est pas mauvais en soit

Vraiment boring, pas ma came du tout

Tuesday, 21 July, 2026 Eh at best: Couple decent songs.

This album was alright, it didn’t feel like I HAD to listen to any of these songs, I was bored, the harmonica or whatever was saving it, it was nice for the morning but if I actually put my FULL attention into it I would most likely pray for the songs to end so I can reach the end of the album faster 😭🙏

Never heard of this guy but apparently everyone hates him? Budget Bob Dylan without the engaging lyrics

wait 'till he hears about 9/11

Like it JUST SLIGHTLY more than the other Ryan Adams album :/

fartbreaker

honestly, cant find anything wrong with this album, really enjoyed it listening it at night after argentina lost. It has a little bit of everything, and it does it all right. I wanted to give find a reason to give it a 4 star, because its not that known an artist, but fuck it, 5 star

Ta bueno, tengo que escucharlo entero todo junto, lo escuche de noche y me quedé dormido, pero me gusta la onda.

meh

Ok. Hard to like him now.

As a point in time, playing the ball, not the man.

I had no idea there was any kind of controversy around him until I started reading some of the reviews. I didn't like this or hate this album enough to even care to look him up. It was mostly kinda fine, I'll likely not listen to this again.

zzz

Nja, det kändes lite för trött.

Rätt nice men blev lite sömnigt mot slutet.

Asså jag har ju gillat den här förut men inte så mycket längre. Kanske pga Dylan-överdos eller nåt.

Never heard of this guy before, not super impressed. Seems like average countryish rock album, probably around 2 stars. Don't care to relisten after one listenm

Sad yeehaw :(

Overall: 4/10 Ryan Adams has a nice voice, and I think that's something that even his biggest haters can admit. It's just a shame that the songs he writes are completely uninteresting, not to mention his controversial life. A pretty voice only goes so far, and I think he had his time. Fav Song: My Winding Wheel

Better than his classic-rock send-up Gold, but that isn't saying much when it's Ryan fucking Adams behind it. I can't buy anything this guy says with sincerity, so the album ends up just skeeving me out.

Literally put me to sleep

First attempt put me to sleep. Second attempt caused me physical pain. It's not like I went into it looking to hate! I found the opening "skit" to be a genuinely charming way to lead into the album, and the first two songs were breezy and earnest, even if I'm not exactly an enjoyer of the "singer-songwriter with acoustic guitar" genre. Then Amy was particularly awful, and his whispery singing on it struck a nerve I didn't even know I had. Flashes of Hey There Delilah, maybe. Everything that followed was some alt-country sludge I simply couldn't care for. He's seemingly trying to sound like a sad and vulnerable indie boy, but it's Ryan fucking Adams so it's impossible to take seriously, especially with "Sweet lil' Gal" looming over the tracklist. I found myself skipping a lot by the end. If this record did anything, it was making me respect the likes of Nick Drake and Bob Dylan a WHOLE lot more. Standout: (Argument with David Rawlings Concerning Morrisey)

This album got my attention from the word go. I thought that Gold was a very bloated and overlong album, so I was not looking forward to sitting down with Heartbreaker in the slightest. Pleased to say I was wrong! Emmylou Harris elevates songs that otherwise might not do much for me, but I do believe that his slow songs are not as good as he thinks they are.

Мені було трохи складно повністю послухати цей альбом. Дуже багато ліричних та мінорних пісень, які сильно виділяються, і під кінець я вже думав, що поставлю 2 зірочки. Проте це була б несправедлива оцінка. Тут вистачає хороших пісень, хороший продакшн на альбомі, звук чудовий. Є бенгер To Be Young, я б скоріше такий альбом послухав. Ніколи не слухав Раяна альбомами, та й взагалі не слухав, лише якийсь кліп був на OTV.

Альбом має свої класні моменти (наприклад мені сподобалась Bartering Lines), але загалом скоріш не моє - як і загалом творчість Райана Адамса.

I've played it three times, and hardly noticed it was playing. Totally bland an uninteresting , except Shakedown On 9th Street and To Be Young. Which earns a second star. But I did recognise this is Ryan Adams. And not Bryan.

Really enjoyed this - I liked the early Ryan Adams material but sad to learn about his behavior. One point deduction.

Eh, I don't like country sounds.

Much better than I expected! Turns out I knew a few of these songs. 3.5 stars

Fuck this little sex pest

i was a fan of Ryan Adams. I'm aware he has recently been cancelled and i am inconsistent when seperating the art from the artist so i still occasionally. This debut demonstrates his quality of songwriting and his potential to go onto be a icon. The alt country vibe marries the best if both worlds, he has a grear voice but its his ability to write great tunes that makes him stand out.

# Ryan Adams' *Heartbreaker*: An In-Depth Review *Heartbreaker* (released September 5, 2000) isn't just Ryan Adams' debut solo album—it's the record that established him as a singular voice in Americana . Recorded over 14 days in Nashville with producer Ethan Johns after the dissolution of Adams' band Whiskeytown, this album captures a young man processing heartbreak, displacement, and reinvention with raw, unflinching honesty . --- ## Lyrics: Confessional, Poetic, and Unflinchingly Honest The songwriting on *Heartbreaker* is deeply autobiographical, largely inspired by Adams' breakup with his then-girlfriend Amy Lombardi . The lyrics feel less like polished poetry and more like journal entries set to music—intimate, unguarded, and often devastating. The album's emotional centerpiece, "Come Pick Me Up," exemplifies this confessional style. The chorus captures that self-destructive desperation of wanting someone back even when you know they're bad for you: "take me out / fuck me up / steal my records" . As one critic noted, the power of the song isn't in marveling at the ex's monstrosity but in seeing yourself in that willingness to be mistreated . "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)" distills youthful despair into a simple, almost mantra-like chorus, while "Oh My Sweet Carolina"—featuring the sublime harmonies of Emmylou Harris—grapples with Adams' conflicted relationship with his home state and the restlessness of young adulthood: "I was trying to find me something / But I wasn't sure just what / Man I ended up with pockets full of dust" . The album's lyrics, however, aren't all misery. There's humor and self-awareness throughout, opening with an in-studio debate about Morrissey and including oddball character sketches like "Shakedown on 9th Street" . This emotional range prevents the album from becoming a monotonous dirge. **Pros:** Bracingly honest and emotionally immediate; avoids cliché despite being a breakup record; balances despair with occasional humor and wit. **Cons:** Some critics note the lyrics rarely stray beyond romantic angst, which can feel repetitive ; a few songs ("Don't Ask for the Water") feel like filler compared to the highlights . --- ## Music: Sparse, Tasteful, and Rooted in Tradition Musically, *Heartbreaker* is a masterclass in restraint. The production, helmed by Ethan Johns, is intentionally lo-fi and sparse—often just Adams' acoustic guitar and voice, with subtle additions of organ, banjo, harmonica, or percussion . The album was recorded live to analog tape, often with only Adams and Johns in the room, preserving a live, unvarnished immediacy . The musicianship is exceptional despite the minimalism. Guest appearances from Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, and David Rawlings add depth without overshadowing Adams . Welch's harmonies on "Come Pick Me Up" are particularly stunning, floating just beneath Adams' ragged vocals. Adams channels his influences—Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Neil Young—without sounding like a mere imitator . "Damn, Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains)" is consciously Dylan-esque in its vocal delivery and Dadaist title, while "Oh My Sweet Carolina" echoes the weary beauty of Parsons' country-rock . Yet these nods feel like homage, not theft. The album also shows range: from the bar-band energy of "Shakedown on 9th Street" to the tender balladry of "Call Me on Your Way Back Home" to the haunting folk of "In My Time of Need" . It's a record that feels both timeless and deeply personal. **Pros:** Sparse production gives songs room to breathe; performances are raw and emotionally resonant; tasteful arrangements and guest spots enhance without overwhelming. **Cons:** The vocal mix is often too high, with Adams' voice dominating the instruments, which can become grating on certain tracks ; some songs feel like sketches that could have been developed further . --- ## Themes: Heartbreak, Youth, and Reinvention *Heartbreaker* revolves around a handful of interconnected themes: romantic loss, youthful despair, the search for identity, and the painful process of starting over . The album functions almost as a concept piece about personal reinvention, following Adams' journey from emotional wreckage in New York to rediscovering his voice in Nashville . Songs like "AMY" (explicitly naming the inspiration for the album) and "Why Do They Leave?" explore abandonment and the lingering pain of rejection . "My Winding Wheel" captures the insecurity of young love, with Adams singing "buy a pretty dress / wear it out tonight / for anyone you think could outdo me"—a challenge, a plea, and a threat all at once . But the album also looks backward with nostalgia and ambivalence. "Oh My Sweet Carolina" is as much about leaving home as it is about lost love, grappling with the pull of roots versus the need to wander . "In My Time of Need" offers a rare note of hope, suggesting that even rock bottom is survivable . As one reviewer noted, the album's true focus isn't misery but nostalgia—a fondness for an earlier, more dramatic version of oneself . It's a record that allows listeners to see themselves in its cover art: prostrate, staring at the ceiling, half-hoping the cigarette drops . --- ## Influence: The Cornerstone of Modern Americana *Heartbreaker* has become a touchstone for alternative country and Americana, influencing countless singer-songwriters who followed . Pitchfork placed it at #122 on its list of the best albums of the 2000s, while Rolling Stone ranked it #38 on theirs . It's been included in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* and was nominated for the 2001 Shortlist Music Prize . The album's legacy, however, is complicated. Adams' subsequent career has been prolific but uneven, and *Heartbreaker* towers over much of his later work—some argue to his detriment . The album's myth of the "realest breakup album ever" has also been questioned, with critics noting that its power lies not in authenticity but in its ability to make listeners feel seen in their own sadness . More recently, Adams' personal controversies have prompted reconsiderations of the album's lyrics, particularly regarding gender dynamics in songs like "AMY" and "Come Pick Me Up" . Yet the album's artistic stature remains largely intact. --- ## Pros and Cons Summary | **Pros** | **Cons** | |----------|----------| | Bracingly honest, confessional lyrics | Narrow thematic focus (mostly romantic angst) | | Sparse, tasteful production that serves the songs | Vocals often overpower the instrumental mix | | Excellent guest contributions (Harris, Welch, Rawlings) | A few tracks feel like filler | | Emotional range (despair, humor, nostalgia) | Some songs could have been developed further | | Timeless, rootsy arrangements | | --- ## Conclusion *Heartbreaker* is a remarkable debut—an album that captures a young artist at a crossroads, channeling pain and confusion into songs that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant . Its production is raw, its lyrics are unflinching, and its emotional honesty remains affecting more than two decades later. It's not a perfect album. The vocal mix can be abrasive, a few tracks drag, and the thematic focus can feel narrow . But its flaws are inseparable from its appeal: this is a record made by a gifted, messy, emotionally volatile young man who wasn't trying to create a masterpiece—he was just trying to survive . *Heartbreaker* remains essential listening—not just for fans of Americana, but for anyone who has ever felt young, lost, and heartbroken. It's the rare album that makes sadness feel not just bearable, but beautiful.

Wasn’t sure about this. Put off listening to it, so when it was different than I expected to be, I was pleasantly surprised. Went a bit like this: Oh, ok. Cool. Don’t hate it. Quite like it Harmonies on this are nice Like the laid back, lazy drums on this Tho is is a quieter one A bit Dylan-y Oh another one like that one before And another How long is this album Quite long How much more to go Quite a lot 3

Wow! The music is ok, his voice is interesting, but once you know the backstory of his breakup with “Amy”, this whole album is more than a little stalker-ish. It’s been almost 40 years now. I sure hope he got over her. I wonder if he ever listens to this and feels embarrassed. If he had/has a wife, how does she feel about this effort? I can’t imagine I’d ever listen to this album on a regular basis, or ever again, for that matter.

Considerably better than his other album on here, although some songs were particularly dreary, especially towards the end. Bartering Lines was my favourite

When I was listening to this I thought, “not only are these songs really corny and dumb, I have a bad feeling about this guy.” Then I googled Ryan Adams and now I feel like I’m just an excellent judge of character.

Wow the court of social media has found guilty and sentenced this guy, no mistake. Not condoning the allegations or anyone actually involved, their pain, he may very well be a bit of a creep but reading he hasn’t been charged with anything. Its funny how other artists with worst allegations or even criminal charges don’t appear quite so damned on here. Cough virtue signalling, Know that ain’t about music, but it kind of is if you like the artist, no one was calling out led Zep in their album review the other day and they bragged about their dubious exploits in the past when it was ok to do so. It is hypocrisy, so stop the virtue signalling always when it fits. People are complicated but everything is not binary, and yeah maybe society gives too much power to the wrong people most of the time. Anyway This is a good Americana album, falls into too maudlin at times to be great, but he can write songs and give a “vulnerable “ delivery. 4 Star

I quite liked the atmosphere of this, the guitars really draw you in, and the singer has a good voice. Will probably listen again at some point. No tracks resonated with me especially strongly

That a very mellow debut from Ryan. Kind of a blend of Dylan, David Gray, and James Taylor. Shakedown on 9th Street is the most energetic, rest of ‘em are sleepy but good. (3.3*s) Great for a Sunday morning listen.

Pretty heartfelt country, folk, rock album here with Heartbreaker. Got a good range with "Come Pick Me Up" and "Shakedown on 9th Street" top tracks. A tough break up will bring out something deep from an artist and you can feel the authenticity. Some Bob Dylan influence. Ryan Adams is a lesser known Adams in the music biz for me and he's got some potential with this debut. 2.58 stars for moving me a bit.

Heartbreaker opened with a pretty solid rockabilly song that set the table nicely. Unfortunately from there Ryan Adams really slowed it down and followed it up with 10 sappy acoustic country folk songs. At times there are shades of the best parts of Bob Dylan (without any cartoonish vocal stylings), but a lot of it was also the worst parts of many of the old, slow country artists that are appear elsewhere on this list. Unfortunately this 30+ minute stretch killed all the vibes and by the time we got anywhere near a more upbeat song I had already lost all interest. I wanted to like this album more than I did as it seems like Ryan Adams is a talented song writer. There's a lot of emotion in this album, but unfortunately only 2 songs from this album ended up being anything that interested me. The remainder were generic skippable Nashville country that was way to slow to make any of it memorable. Never heard of this guy previously and now that I have he's not in a genre that interests me so I can easily file this one away for good. 1.50 stars

60s music for the 2000s crowd Not interested

Ryan Adams has a lot of music I love, but this might be my favorite album of his. I wish he wasn't such a creep.

Me encanta, me gusta su estilo y la combinación de sentimientos

Bit of a rollercoaster with this one. It started (didn't know who he was) and I was like "oh yes 5 stars, so emotional", but then he brought out the harmonica. Big mistake. Also it was too long, some of the songs got a bit samey towards the end. Then I found out who he was from the reviews. Yikes! Anyway it ends up being a 3

Something something…Bryan Adams joke…something something. This is a forgettable one hit wonder album that shouldn’t be on the list. 1.5⭐️

Bom, vale a pena conferir outros álbuns

I feel like this will improve with repeated listening - it didn’t immediately grab me.

Guys the last 3 albums feel so sonically similar. Can we get a switch up

This makes me want to order a single malt at a rundown saloon in an old timey Wild West town. Songwriting and vocals are great, but it’s quite bloated

A very strong debut from someone who has always seemed like a tortured, musical genius. However, not every song, to me, is super entertaining. The strong tracks are really strong (Come Pick Me Up, Damn Sam, Call Me, To Be Young, Shakedown). But some of the others don’t completely hold up comparatively. Also, I’m deducting a point because I believe Mandy and Phoebe

Rating: 4.9/5 Short Review: Messy, vulnerable, funny, lonely, and devastatingly human. This feels like someone sitting on a porch at 2 AM trying to tell the truth, then realizing the truth is a lot messier than expected. Favorite Track: “Come Pick Me Up.” One of the great heartbreak songs. Bitter, romantic, self-destructive, tender, and hilarious all at the same time.

Well produced and recorded. Feel like this can be found in a lot of places. That’s not to say it’s bad - just not going to seek it out.

This started off promising - he knows how to create a song - but concluded a bit shite. There are a couple of songs on here that are good, but I can't say I enjoyed the rest of it.

I thought this album had a really fun interlude but the expectations set at the beginning were not met throughout the album. Still an ok listen, 3 stars.

Second album proposé après 'Gold' que je n'avais pas apprécié (noté 2/5 - pas désagréable mais long et ennuyeux). Ce nouvel album est dans la même veine, tout aussi long et peu intéressant. Il ne mérite pas une meilleure note. Mais là je n'ai pas eu la patience d'aller au bout ... =>1/5

The first half was incredible. The second half didn’t feel the same for some reason. Overall, I really liked how quiet and peaceful this record is. I don’t mind harmonica in small amounts, but I think there’s too much here. And since the instruments are quiet, I think his voice does a ton of the heavy lifting here, but in a good way! I enjoyed the Emmylou Harris harmonizations as well!

suprisingly good? i was scared at first, in my head i thought - not another white guy singing classical-ish rock in the 2000s. but it was good, it was playful and deep

I like the stripped back country vibe of this album. Some good melodies and harmonies.

"Come Pick Me Up" will always be near and dear to my heart. Like a ghost on my shoulder. **** As for the rest of this album..... well, Ryan is a fantastic mimic. He can impersonate his heroes pretty well. He loves Dylan, obviously. He has a great voice, and good taste. The songs are pretty strong, particularly the mid-album trio of "Call me on your way back home," "Damn, Sam," and "Come Pick Me Up." But the album is too long, and if you aren't into the low-tempo singer-songwriter thing, this is going to be quite the slog. But if that’s your style- this will hit the spot. THREE STARS

A second record from unremarkable dullard, Ryan "don't call me Bryan" Adams features all of the painful balladry of the other record we heard but this time, with a greaser leather jacket diner sock hop twist. Those words in a row describe to me a hell so fiery, so smouldering with sulphuric smoke that I'm beginning to feel faint. The final song of this record is a "so bad it's good" masterclass as Flyin' Ryan sings the words "L'IL GIRL" repeatedly as though he's trying to avoid waking up his parents in the next room. Another hour wasted in my only hours of consciousness. Thanks 1001. 0 HIGHLIGHTS: Cuts Like a Knife

Dunno who this guy is or why people hate him but this album sounds good.

- I'm a little bit torn on this one: It's fine and maybe in the context of the time released it meant more but, in the end, it's just kinda well produced, boring neo-country(?). Nothing sticks with the listener. It's just gloss. 2.5 rounded up for competency. -

A personal favorite but I still like other albums from him better

So my usual approach with these situations is to try and seperate the art from the artist.. I found with this one it was difficult to do. I genuinely like the style and think Ryan Adams has some genuine skill as a songwriter, I just couldn't not hear some level of predatory cringy masoganist BS shine through on this album. Not sure if this was real or just perceived, but either way it left me with a bad taste in my mouth and i couldn't enjoy this. His fault not mine.

Separating the art from the artist and this album is just alright. It's an alt country album about heartbreak, which I've grown to enjoy a lot of alt country, but I just don't really connect with break-up albums. Admitting my bias against the artist and it's hard to take some of these emotional songs seriously when I know he's a manipulative asshole. Even the anecdote about naming the album feels disingenuous to me. He deserves the heartbreak.

(Argument with David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey) n/a To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) 3.3 My Winding Wheel 3 Amy 3.2 Oh My Sweet Carolina 3.3 Bartering Lines 3.5 Call Me On Your Way Back Home 3 Damn, Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains) 2.8 Come Pick Me Up 3.2 To Be the One 2.9 Why Do They Leave? 3 Shakedown on 9th Street 3.4 Don't Ask for the Water 2.8 In My Time of Need 3 Sweet Lil Gal (23rd/1st) 2.7 Score: 3.078571429

come pick me up is still so good

Towards the top of the two stars, quite enjoyed this although doubtful I will listen again

I’m surprised at how this album turned out. For me at least. I don’t know what I expected other than feeling like my time would be wasted. It still doesn’t feel productive but at least I’m not cringing after every song. This is mellow and I can’t quite figure out what the album is best suited for. Going to sleep perhaps? It’s decent but that only gets you 3 stars in my books. That is tough company. I think maybe 3.5 stars is more deserving. Choice cut: My Winding Wheel

Me gustó bastante, son unas baladitas super trankas y piolas. Buen rock and roll, un par de temas me los agregue a la playlist. 8/10

I've never listened to his music before. All I know is he's put out a shit ton of albums, he covered Taylor Swift's 1989 album, Mandy Moore and Phoebe Bridgers don't like him and he's divisive. I'm 5-6 songs deep into this thing and I realize I've heard this album before...but I've never listened to it before, if you know what I mean. It's not bad, it's just not memorable. Maybe I'll try 1989 here in a few minutes.

Everything about this album is underwhelming. Even the argument about Morrissey barely qualifies as a tiff.

Hugs to the dude who thought this was a Bryan Adams album. Ryan Adams is a much bigger dickhead than Bryan could ever be. Ryan has some solid albums, this one is just meh for me.

Miestä ja kitaraa. Hidasta tempoa. Varmaan jonkinlaista American folkia.

Their band seems to have fun playing together Good guitar and harmonies I like this style of music Very retro vibes. Several tracks (Amy) would fit in pretty well in the 60s. Also very country at times, bluegrassy (Bartering Lines, Call Me on Your Way Back Home). Ok, this is definitely country, except with more cursing I enjoyed it

There's something comforting about this album. Instrumental, kind of folksy, I really dig it.

It was a little slow. But I enjoyed listening to the lyrics and liked a couple songs.

Is it country? Is it pop? Is it from the 70s? Is it from 2010? Meh

Liked some of the songs but a lot of them sounded repetitive with the harmonica and him wailing about his love interest leaving him

Not my cup of tea.

#149/1001 🇺🇸 This is a tough listen. An album that i love, but haven't listened to in 7 years. Whilst i was disgusted by the stories that came out about Ryan Adams, i'm looking at this album in isolation and its nothing short of brilliant. Might never listen to it again though. Best Tracks: Winding Wheel, Come Pick Me Up, Oh My Sweet Carolina. The Man: 1/5 The Album: 5/5

Has a strong folksy beginning that gives me some Eddie Vedder flashbacks watching Into the Wild. His voice has got that raspy quality that most Indie folk singers have these days and he pulls it off well. When the energy slows down in the middle/ back half of the album is where I think it loses some of the charm but it stays cohesive and on track the whole time.

Never listened to Ryan Adams or any of his songs so looking at the cover I thought that this will be finally an album full of heartbreak inspired piano ballades but it is not! All the songs are the same - very meh

Not bad, but on the slower side. 3/5

Jan Levinson would have loved this one

I really could not stand his voice sadly. I gave the album a good try and there were a song or two where I had a decent time but when it’s just him and a guitar or a piano I couldn’t stand it.

Blind album and artist. What a treat of an album. Beautifully put together, flow was great from track to track, loved the intro/skit lead in, bluesy folk style is always a great style, but the energy brought and the consistency across the whole album makes me feel like this album deserves to be higher. This doesnt blow my brain per se, but this is better than most. 4.

Ryan Adams may be a horrid abusive prick, but this album is really lovely. Gentle alt-country vibes, nice melodies, just really enjoyable.

Nice to listen to, not off to buy the album but a good listen

Bit whiney init? Guys a good songwriter i guess, but for some reason I didnt love the album.

Ryan Adams is a prolific americana and roots rock songwriter with a good voice. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings are great musicians. But this album is not for me. Most of the songs are mellow americana songs that I find truly depressing. And the Bob Dylan harmonica is the nail in the coffin. I did like Amy though which reminded me of early Beatles.

Some solid styling and lyrics. I will give this a 4 because I like it. Although it is probably more a 3 overall. Just very competently done.

The weirdest thing about reading Ryan Adams’ Wikipedia page is that he continually had albums rejected by labels for being not good. And then the albums that got made are like, so middle of the road. Huh? Fact is though, he can write a good song every now and then. And he uses a lot of organ in the background and that shit is nice. Everything else about this sucks.

Really liked it. Never listened to him before

mellow. chill. laid back. sad.

boring i fear

Well, that was dreary and uninteresting, and apparently the man is a piece of shit.

Man they are a lot of keyboard warriors here who think their reviews are changing the damn world. Sometimes you have to be able to separate the artist from the art or you really can’t listen to much music at all… Ryan was the gateway to more country influenced rock that ultimately got me to Americana and Bluegrass. This album is a pretty damn good example from the era. Songwriting, collaboration and production come together for a pure 2000s experience. He is definitely the master of the Americana song from the era, whatever that even means. Mega hits on this with solid songs between spanning human emotion and experience.

I hate this album, I hate fake Bob Dylan, I hate real Bob Dylan, I hate Ryan Adams, I hate the mouth organ. I hate I listened too this. I could go on

Huge Whiskeytown fan and followed Ryans early career but kinda tired of him. This is a solid record though

An intresting album but a shitty person. 4 for the album but knock of a couple for being a twat

Mediocre. Inoffensive. 3/5.

I understand he’s not a good person. But I’m not reviewing the person. I’m reviewing the album, and this album is pretty decent.

Good first solo album. I bought it when it came out during an “alt country” phase and Bloodshot Records purchases. Ryan Adam’s picked guest artists well—Gillian Welch, Dave Rollins, Emmylou Harris, and Kim Richey. Sweet Carolina is great. “Damn Sam” and “Come Pick Me Up” hold up for me. Some of it’s too quiet for me, so “Shakedown on 9th Street” is a welcome rocker. Still, the album holds up well.

Pitäisi kuunnella uudestaan. Parempi kuin ajattelin. 3,75/5.

Alright, the first track made me want to listen to bob dylan and I never quite got over that.

Terrible person. Great album.

my mom knows how much i like bob dylan as well as how i like jeff buckley and one day she told me that ryan adam's was the perfect mix between the two. i had only heard a couple of his songs but was unfamiliar with him otherwise. I first started with heartbreaker between the two she recommended to me, heartbreaker and gold, and immediately loved it. I already knew a couple of the songs on it, but I was amazed by how much my mom really hit it spot on. I listened to this when I was driving all the way up to Michigan driving through Maryland and now I can't think of it without remembering that roadtrip. I love the little intro to beginning. I love all the vibes of the songs. I love the cover. I love it all.

Neat. This was just pleasant to listen to. I really had no strong expectations, except I guess that this was a little bit mainstream pop rock. I guess that's roughly right but it seemed to be delivered in such a high quality way. Reminds me of Damien rice in bits but maybe more straight up and not so emo. The start feels like a caricature impression of Dylans early electric period except without Dylans goofy voice - kind of works though!

We got jeff buckley at home.

Did I accidentally listen to the whole thing? Yes. Was it memorable? No.

2.5, almost a 3

The album was ok, sounded like it had a couple of cover songs

Solid Americana starter album.

Not my thing but it's a good album

Right out of the gate this one wears its, Bringing it all Back Home mid 60s era Bob Dylan, influence on it's sleeve; not that I'm complaining and I think this is a brilliant album. A bit derivative, (Dylan, Young, Gram Parsons) but packed with great songwriting and excellent (yes, we all played in the same room when we recorded this) musicianship. It just sounds like they had a great time making this. I love the always superb David Rawlings contribution on guitar and backing vocals, and especially Emmylou Harris singing duet harmonies... Very classy.

Slow country songs a bit meh

I thought I was listening to Bob Dylan but I wasn't because it wasn't as good. Below par imitation.

i bet he STILL goes for sloppy steaks at Truffoni's

I really liked it. The only heartbreak is when it was over.

Alright, a little boring for me but not bad for sure. 3 stars

Fin, men blir fort litt bakgrunnsmusikk.

Ble positivt overrasket. Absolutt en plate jeg kan sette på en søndag morgen. Behagelig lydbilde og fin stemme.

Har aldri satt mæ inn i Ryan Adams, bare hørt en låt her og der. Det her va jo fint. Albumet savne noen låte som åpningssporet. Snill firer

Stort sett bare seige og kjedelige låter.

Why does it seem like the world's shittiest people are the ones who make the best art? Not always, sometimes the art is equally shitty; but the art is great often enough to make me very disappointed.

Enjoyed this

Realmente sorprendido, buena musica, no conocía a este cantante, algo de country, es un Bob Dylan mas actualizado. Algunas canciones me hacen acordar a Silvio Rodríguez, muy bueno!

I actually liked Ryan's music, but he's persona non grata after fucking with my girl Liz. Never again.

Very emotional, I love the clear vocals. Also, most tracks have beautiful outros. Strong 3 Favorite track(s) To Be Young Amy Oh My Sweet Carolina

“Heartbreaker” by Ryan Adams is a very solid, well-crafted singer-songwriter album—not particularly exciting or innovative, but without any notable weaknesses. The songs could use a little more drive, but otherwise...

So much better than his other album on this list but not worth a relisten

Not my thing.

This may be the artist/album that really solidified the importance of separating the artist from the art. It would be a shame to not listen to this incredible collection of songs just because of the personal issues of the creator. If we force our artists to be rational, well-behaving members of society then we should be prepared for a ton of mediocre art.

I enjoyed this much more than Gold which is one of the worst albums I’ve ever heard. This still isn’t good, but I like that To Be Young song or whatever it’s called.

Such a great album.

Catch up #8 October 12 2026 Whew, whiny country and bad. Unlistenable. The last Ryan Adams album was actually okay. It’s clearly testing the fates to see if a second album would hit. it does not. ⭐️

Loose, shaggy even, but compelling and enjoyable

Me encanta la armónica. Es una mezcl de folk-rock que me re gustó

Could finish the album, I was in a metal mood. What i heard felt pretty middle of the road.

I listened to a few tracks while commuting and it was okay while not really grabbing me. I put it on later while mowing and started to appreciate it more. The later tracks specifically got interesting and then when the album repeated I appreciated the first tracks more on second listen.

a quite laid-back country album. the album was made shortly after a break-up with both a music partner and the band that he was in. it's considered to be a brand new start for adams, and you can hear it in this album. out of all the country stuff i've listened to... this one is surprisingly VERY tolerable. like seriously, one of those few instances where i wasn't turned off by what i heard at all. it's very authentic compared to some of the other stuff i've heard.

Pretty good! Only heard that first song before but he's good. I could use more singer / songwriter in my ears.

Surprisingly good :o

the soundtrack to a movie I'd give a 2.5 stars on Letterboxd.

I never "got" Ryan Adams before. Bang average songs with some decent production. Why this appears on this list is a mystery. And there's no "goodwill bonus" for this douche either. Really chuffing boring.

Meh/10 [DROP]

979 albums in and I manage to get two of his in one week. I didn't go into this album with any optimism. I'd had another Ryan Adams album on here and it kind of sucked. It was bland and lacked personality, sort of like a Temu Bruce Springsteen. This one starts off a lot better. Track two, the first proper track, reminded me so strongly of early-ish Dylan, so that's a positive. It does lull after that, unfortunately. There is an upswing towards the end, at least. It's not great overall, nothing revolutionary or anything, but a damn sight better than the other album of his I had to listen to.

Solid millennial alt-country. I'm a bigger fan of Josh Ritter but I hear less about him for some reason. If you like mildly sad music that's striving for authenticity (the striving is part of the problem), this is for you. Good but not great (that's Wilco from the same era). 3/5

Ryan Adams no es tan conocido en Chile; de hecho es menos conocido que su banda antigua banda Whiskeytown. Por suerte, entiendo algo de la escena gracias a mi fanatismo por Wilco y el sonido del midwestern noventero. No tenía idea, sin embargo, que Adams era una figura tan controversial dentro de la escena alternativa estadounidense; algo así como un "Morrissey heterosexual" (curiosamente a quien hace referencia en el primer track del proyecto). Dicho esto, realizaré esta reseña sin tomar en cuenta las acusaciones (confirmadas por el mismo artista) de parte de connotadas figuras de Estados Unidos como Phoebe Bridgers. ¿Qué puedo decir? Adams tiene talento. Las composiciones son interesantes, las letras atrapantes y los paisajes pintados son destacables dentro de una cascada de folk-country poco imaginativo (sonido que se ha tomado Estados Unidos). Entiendo 100% por qué este disco está en la lista de los 1001 que debes escuchar antes de morir y (guardando precauciones de no promocionar abiertamente el trabajo de Adams) lo volvería a escuchar. La producción es increíble, cruda y personal. Entiendo como esto pudo inspirar a artistas similares; perfilando un sonido de bedroom folk alternativo. Lo único que puedo lamentar es que esta inspiración y posición en la fundación de un sonido característico del under de los 2000s fue mal utilizado por una mala persona. Pistas destacadas To Be Young My Winding Wheel Amy Oh My Sweet Carolina Call me on your way back home Damn Sam Shakedown on 9th street Don't Ask for the Water

I really liked his subsequent album "Gold" - but this rather washed over me - a bit generic and a bit forgettable.

The definition of coffee shop music. Nothing offensive, nothing stand out. His two best tunes not on this album.

I enjoyed this album fine from Adams! I believe this is my second Adams album on here. He kinda sounded like a wannabe Bob Dylan in some parts but overall I thought this was a good alt-country album. This album is not typically my vibe and it was kind of a sleepy album in some parts but overall I liked it for what it was even though I don’t think I need to listen to it again.

At least it wasn't Bryan Adams

2nd one from him and a bit better

We don't give stars to abusers.

Surprisingly enjoyable

Ryan Adams is a pretty prolific artist. There's a lot of albums out there. There's a few Ryan Adams albums that I really love. "Love is Hell", "Rock N Roll", "Easy Tiger"... they're my jams. "1989" is a fun cover album. There's a bunch that I think are only alright... "Demolition", "Gold"... There's a bunch I think are pretty bad. I always found "Heartbreaker" to be pretty mid overall. "To Be Young" is a great track, but man, miss me with everything else.

mediocre for the most part—its slow melodies are nice sometimes but not when it's a good 80% of the tracks, and I'm not feeling the harmonicas either—but not the worst.

Hasn't aged very well but Emmylou sounds amazing as always, god she's great.

Fits the name to a tee. I snubbed Ryan Adams when I was at a festival he played at over ten years ago thinking he was a dated douche and released mid music. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed his voice (David Grey-esque), guitar and lyrics (Bob Dylan Americana influence). This album picked me up, swirled me around, dropped me. I was slightly bored by same of the slower melancholic songs but perhaps I wasn’t in the right mood to truly appreciate it (maybe I’ll come back to this in a heartbreak worthy moment). All in all it’s opened my eyes to Ryan Adams and made me interested in listening to more of his work.

I love his music, such a shame he's such a POS.

i didn’t want to like it but i did

What a boring and annoying piece of music. No one can convince me that people actually listen to Country in their free time.

Take my opinion with a grain of salt; I never actually listened to Ryan Adam’s until after his more notorious history came to light. But I don’t see this as much more than replacement-level indie rock. There are a couple of songs that I flagged, but this seemed forgettable.

super solid album

This album is good, the better songs seems towards the middle of the album. It's made so earnestly. Feels honest and emotional. I respect it. 3.8/5

Pretty good album. I never gave it a listen til now. I wanna say I'll come back but I'm not sure I will. Carefully walks that line of folk/americana and rock n roll revival. Alot to like and alot to dislike all at the same time. Mundane, slow, formulated but then sometimes prolific and full of camraderie. Akin to Don McLean Am-Pie. 3⭐️⭐️⭐️

This didn’t really sit with me at all - tracks kind of merge into one another, and I found myself checking how long was left. Not rotten, just not for me. Favourite track: Oh My Sweet Carolina

No misses.

buen descubrimiento

I tried. Everything says he's a singer/songwriter - but this is fucking country music in disguise. I can't do it.

Everything about this album is derivative... even down to the title he stole from a Mariah Carey song. Songs are boring and sound like knock-off Bob Dylan. And he seems like a pretty bad guy!

Not my thing

It’s important to try to separate the artist from the art with Ryan Adams. Otherwise it’s a disservice to his positive contributions to the world, including this masterpiece. I made myself pay special attention to the lyrics this time around, as I’ve listened to this album dozens of times at least in my life. I think he equals this album musically later in his career with records like Love Is Hell and Prisoner, but his lyrics on Heartbreaker are outstanding. One other takeaway from this listen is how brilliant the song Amy is both musically and lyrically.

This guy wants to be Dylan, I think as I hear the opening notes. Then it's all downhill. Terribly dull.

Rating: 7/10 Review: Good, albeit a bit boring. I liked the beginning a lot, but it did begin to drag in the last 3rd of the album. Unlike many on this site, I will not be rating this album a 1 because of Adams’ behavior, but I do think that would make me unable to add the songs I liked to my rotation in any way. This is the type of country rock I enjoy, but I don’t think he’s doing anything too different from other, similar artists. I’ll listen to Old Crow Medicine Show instead, who at least earned the right to being Dylanesque when they finished a Dylan bootleg chorus and turned it into Wagon Wheel. Adams just loves Dylan, you can really tell, but offers pretty half-baked lyrics and bland instrumentalism when he’s trying to emulate him. Listen again?: Nah

not my thing exactly

Lovely to listen to again. Especially Time of Need. Wow. It’s been a long while as it turns out he’s a pig.

It’s not great, no business on the list musically.

I felt like this started pretty strong then it kind of dragged on a bit. I liked his sound and the style as it felt a bit a mix of various music genres.

It was decent and did drag on towards the end

I find it funny (in a jaded, cynical way) how so many people are hating on this album bc Ryan Adams made some awful choices that hurt people, and yet they'll listen to Dr. Dre or Marilyn Manson or Eminem and fawn over that. Don't act like you're better than this guy. Stop it. Also learn to separate the art from the artist, at least a little bit. The album was really great, really vibed with it, loved the melancholy stripped down feel. The second half kinda dragged a bit but still was really solid. I feel like his voice fits very well for this. Didn't feel like the time was too long or that the album overstayed its welcome.

boring, boring, boring. don't understand the appeal, or why it's on list.

First song is the best one, legit banger. The rest kinda fade into the background.

Slow, sad, simple, well-made alt-country. That's not a genre that appeals to me, but this is clearly a great example of it.

Good intentions, but too polished and not the right sounding voice. Derivative. 2.5 / 5

Relatively talented asshole. Both come across here.

Toslow and mellow

Was a bit whiny for my tastes.

My heart is broken… Some songs are quite good, and the variety is something I can appreciate. However, some of the lyrics are absolute dog ass and he pisses me off sometimes. Glad I listened though!

Don’t like him

Fine I guess. Had their moment. Did they squander it? Are they a talented jerk with sleazebag tendencies?

I will begrudgingly give 4 stars because I enjoy the album but the guy gets negative a million stars.

This is one of those albums that conflicts me. I quite enjoyed it. Also, Ryan Adams is an asshole and sexual predator. Would’ve been a 4, but I’ll knock it down for him being awful. Also, the Morrisey thing.

Not my cup of tea. Folky, country rock. Some decent ballads on here. Again, cringe cover

This was actually really good. The other Ryan Adams album felt like it dragged a bit, but this one had better pacing and flow, as well as some really nice tender moments.

3.5

2.3/5 This album has some solid songs and also some pretty average tunes. Overall not too bad a listen.

5-star album by a top tier piece of shit person.

Gen X Zach Bryan who had a little too much free access to Bob Dylan albums growing up.

Ryan Adams leaned much more into a country sound on this album than I was expecting, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t notice a major difference between it, Heartbreaker, and Gold, which he released the following year and which carried a very similar vibe. Many reviewers on this site still seem eager to pile on the hate—or make the obvious joke about his name being similar to Canadian rock star Bryan Adams—which has become a bit tiresome. I’m also not entirely sure Adams deserved to have two albums on this list. If I were compelled to choose just one, I’d keep Heartbreaker, as it has a slightly more melancholy tone.

This is still just a guy trying to be the Nu Bob Dylan and not reaching that goal. His voice is much more tolerable than Dylan's, but this album is just mid-level singer-songwriter slop. There did not need to be more than one of his albums here. This is filler.

Quite liked this one tbf, my top songs were ‘To be young’, ‘Bartering lines’ and ‘Why do they leave?’. I thought overall it provided a good vibe some more upbeat songs and some more emotional ones. The instrumentals and vocals are both pretty good. A couple songs sounded similar and there was a little bit too much harmonica in the second half. All in all, a 4 star album from me (on the lower end of 4), the overall experience was enjoyable, and I definitely will listen to some of the songs again just perhaps not the whole album.

Myślę, że moją największą przywarą jest to, że przemawia do mnie muzyka tego gościa. Tak bardzo nie chcę, aby mi się podobała, ale jego Dylanowy vibe i aura barda naszych czasów niestety działa na mnie jak kocimiętka. 7/10

this is what plays on a road trip when it's getting late and you are away from any real place to stop at night, but miraculously you stumvle upon a camping site and there's not much to do other than set up your tent and make a small fire and you have a guitar and your olay this with your friends and you're close enough to the fire for it to burn your faces, but the nights are hard around here and your backs are cold, and you kinda want to get away from the fire and at the same time you just want it to swallow you. And you don't have much food left so you try and fail to make a dinner out of it. And it's not the best but also not the worst you've ever eaten, and it'll have to do.

Esta bueno pero no es la gran cosa

I'm not sure how to rate this. Not bad by any means, but there isn't a circumstance where I would choose this over something else.

This is one of the best singer-songwriter albums I've heard so far. It's not my favorite genre because of how minimal it can be, but it really works here. His voice isn't always the best, but it can be really good and the backing vocals add a lot. The lyrics are really good and this album makes you think. I like that.

Enjoyed some of these songs, but sounds like this guy was a real piece of work. Had never heard of him until this.

Someone has listened to Bob Dylan.

A tough one to grade. I really thought I’d go five here, but after a couple fresh listens it’s just a tad bloated. There’s a 5-star, 11 track album somewhere in here. Anyway, Adams showcases some truly stunning songwriting across the album. 5 or 6 tracks are enduring classics and beacons of the 2000s singer-songwriter boom. For a long time he was a favorite of mine that seemed to have a great career going, but sadly this was the peak.

Well, if you want to get on this list then sounding like a Bob Dylan album is a not a bad way to go about it since he himself has 7 on here! And it worked! And bloody Ryan Adams has 2 albums on here! I thought _Gold_ was ok, this is far to derivative to be deserving of this list or my attention. Sorry Ryan but you caught me on the wrong day for this!

Couldn't get into it

Favorite Track: Oh My Sweet Carolina

it was fine i saved one song

surprisingly enjoyed this

He makes really good music

Minus 4 points stars for Adams being a shit human.

Great. I really didn't know what his music sounded like but I listened to this a few times to get a good idea

Started ok, then just became dull. Not for me.

This is a little more like it. I wasn't impressed with the other Ryan Adams album that I got from this list, but it seems that his debut is a little more focused and spirited here. Kind of peaked early I felt, however. Most of the album is stripped down and focused more on the acoustic side with sensitive lyrics.

Not a fan of anything country related. not interested in any of it. This man is insufferable

A 2.5/5 rounded down because he talked about Morrisey.

Intruiged by the lyric ‘I’m as calm as a fruit stand in new York’. Big fan of the harmonica though but not of the man. Wish it was Bryan Adams 😔. Not BAD but not GOOD, sort of thing you’d hear playing in a bar trying to be a bit more ‘country’ or a bad country selection on the radio

The switch from a pop vibe to yeehaw country was something

The album was alright, but nothing especially memorable.

Romantic. Not bad.

não ouço possível pedófilo com música country chata e rock de npc outro 2/10 porque não achei confirmação da pedofilia, esse parece ter uma sonoridade tipo 1% melhor

Favorite Song: To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)

24 - Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker - Rating = 1 Opens up with them talking about Morrissey albums… I’m guessing most people don’t know that but the song title spoils it. Then it breaks into the opening song, track two, To Be Young. It’s a jangly, bluesy, rambler. Not offensive but not great. My Winding Wheel is bringing country. Amy is more country… I think I’m out on this album about here… more slow country.. Come Pick me Up is the starred track on the record. Slow harmonica… slow beat… are you going anywhere? This is not offending my ears, but it’s never something I’d listen to or turn on… it’s just whiney country slow songs that are boring. I’m out.

After two listens yesterday I have already forgot this album ever existed. In my eyes it's completely unremarkable, with maybe one song at some point catching my attention, but can't remember which one and why. Sometimes sounds like Ed Sheeran with a harmonica. Which is not a compliment.